Roll out the barrel, indeed. Looks like the Brewers have got the blues on the run. They're adding Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain and in the near future probably also a very good starting pitcher through a trade or free agency. You know they've gotten into the heads of the Cubs, Cardinals and every other contender.
More»MLB Tonight on Yelich to the Brewers for four players

The Cubs agreed to a Minor League deal with catcher Chris Gimenez as they try to land Yu Darvish, the top arm on the free-agent market. Not to slight the 35-year-old Gimenez's attractiveness, but it's probably not a coincidence that the Cubs left the job backing up Willson Contreras open until talks with Darvish got serious.
More»Rosenthal talks about Darvish-Cubs rumors

History says that Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta will eventually be rewarded for their patience in this slow-moving market. Top pitchers have always been rewarded, and there's no reason that won't be the case this time around.
More»Darvish tops free-agent pitching market

You could plug Christian Yelich into an established team such as the Dodgers or the Astros, and he'd be a face of the postseason next October. But his greatest value lies in becoming a difference-maker for a team building toward success, where he can set an example for younger teammates who have the talent to accompany him to All-Star Games. The White Sox should be that team.
More» Yelich laces an RBI single up the middle

The Cubs have rather quietly added eight arms to the 40-man roster since they were beaten by the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, including at least six who will go to Arizona with a shot at a spot on the Opening Day roster.
More»Phil Rogers on Cubs' chances of signing Arrieta

When the Winter Meetings came and went with the top free agents still unsigned, we were sure it would mean an unusually active time around the holidays. But now we're moving into the New Year and still the Hot Stove has generated dozens of questions for every answer. With only about six weeks to go before players head to camp, here's a half-dozen teams to keep your eyes on.
More» Free agent market in a holding pattern

Omar Vizquel wasn't the best shortstop of all time. But he outlasted all of the other greats at the most important defensive position in the game, and that's part of why I wound up voting for seven players on the 2018 Hall of Fame ballot, not just the five that were automatics for me.
More»Vizquel on being part of HOF ballot for first time

Jon Daniels' Rangers and Theo Epstein's Cubs are similarly positioned in terms of restocking the shelves as we head into the last full week of business in 2017. Both have made multiple moves that qualify as creative and quite possibly productive, but neither team has addressed its biggest questions. Perhaps the next move will be one of the big ones, as both the Cubs and the Rangers are among teams interested in signing Yu Darvish.
More»Darvish tops free-agent pitching market